Sure, compared to what is flowing out of the faucets in some areas of the world, our water is definitely a major step up. But, unfortunately, drinking straight from the tap, without any sort of filtration, could be putting your health at risk in myriad ways.

This water may not poison you, or produce any immediate ill effects, like violent sickness. But, ingesting small amounts of harmful substances on a regular basis over a long period of time can do serious damage.

You may think turning to bottled water is a good idea, but it may not be for several reasons. First, it is estimated that 40 percent of bottled water is actually just plain tap water, much of it being unfiltered. Furthermore, plastic bottles contain a chemical called BPA, which has been linked to disrupting hormone function, which in turn, may trigger a host of health problems, such as suppressed immune function, breast cancer, prostate cancer, increased risk of obesity, early puberty, and learning and behavioral problems. And if you have even a modicum of concern about the environment, the amount of plastic bottles littering the earth is staggering.

If you want to consume better water, you might consider going the filter route; in fact, companies such as lifesourcewater.com not only provide filters for drinking water, but for all the water in the house.

Now, back to the dangers lurking in your tap water….

Arsenic

Arsenic is literally a poison, and an established carcinogen—a substance known to cause cancer. Because of this strong link, the Environmental Protection Agency actually reduced the maximum allowable levels in drinking water in 2001, from 50 ug/L all the way down to 10 ug/L. But, many health experts warn this is still too high an amount. It has been estimated that over 50 million people spread across 25 states are consuming water with dangerously high levels.

Flouride

The debate about whether fluoride is helpful or harmful is quite a heated one. The US government requires it be added to the water supply because it is believed to promote dental health. But, there is a lot of research suggesting it exacerbates dental problems, as well as contributes to other health problems, such as weakened immunity, suppressed thyroid function and an increased risk of cancer. Many countries in Europe ban the use of it completely.

Aluminum, Lead and Other Heavy Metals

There has been a lot of press regarding the possible links between elevated levels of aluminum in the body, and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease; other conditions that may result include liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, gastrointestinal problems, learning disabilities in children, hyperactivity and skin diseases. Lead consumption may increase the risk for significant developmental delays in children, as well as learning disorders.

Drugs

Over time, the amount of drugs found in the water supply has been increasing. Testing has found traces of everything from antibiotics to birth control pills to antidepressants. And this is not just because people are flushing medications down the toilet like they aren’t supposed to be doing; even if someone throws the medications away, the water drains through landfills and ends up in rivers nearby. While not all states source drinking water from here, many do.

Consuming even small amounts of medications can have serious consequences, particularly if you have allergies to specific drugs or are pregnant.

Chlorine

Chlorine is a highly effective substance for killing microorganisms, which is why you will find it in every pool. Water treatment facilities are also using it in the water you drink, but when consumed, it can be toxic. According to physician and natural health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola, it has been identified as a major cause of bladder cancer. It has also been linked to fertility issues (particularly sperm health), rectal cancer, breast cancer, asthma, birth defects and premature skin aging.

Comments (1)

Hi – I need to correct two statements you make about bottled water in your article.

First, purified bottled water, typically sourced from municipal water systems, is not just tap water in a bottle.

Once the municipal source water enters the bottled water plant several processes are employed to ensure that it meets the purified standard of the U.S. Pharmacopeia 23rd Revision. These treatments can include utilizing a multi-barrier approach. Measures in a multi-barrier approach may include one or more of the following: reverse osmosis, distillation, micro-filtration, carbon filtration, ozonation, and ultraviolet (UV) light. The finished water product is then placed in a bottle under sanitary conditions and sold to the consumer.
If a bottled water product’s source is a public water system and the finished bottled water product does not meet the FDA Standard of Identity for purified water, the product label must disclose the public water system source.

Second, you claim that PET plastic bottled water containers contain bisphenol-A (BPA) which is completely false. PET plastic never contains BPA. Even though PET plastic does not contain BPA, regulatory agencies in several countries and the FDA have ruled favorably on the safety of BPA. The consensus among these international regulatory agencies is that the current levels of exposure to BPA through food packaging and does not pose a health risk.

You may be unaware of the fact that Bottled water is comprehensively regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a packaged food product and it provides a consistently safe and reliable source of drinking water. By federal law, the FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water must be at least as stringent as the EPA standards for tap water. And, in some very important cases like lead, coliform bacteria, and E. coli, bottled water regulations are substantially more stringent.